Heidelberg Materials has commissioned a converted Class 08e battery electric shunting locomotive for Whatley Quarry, the first electric shunter to operate at any UK quarry. Rebuilt by Positive Traction from a withdrawn diesel unit, the loco uses six Powerpod battery packs providing 600 kWh of energy and up to 50% more tractive effort than the original configuration. The deployment supports Heidelberg’s target to cut delivery transport emissions by 15% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline, signalling practical zero‑emission options for heavy rail movements on quarry sites.

Rox Resources has reported new high-grade gold intercepts outside the current definitive feasibility study mine plan at the Youanmi gold project in Western Australia, signalling potential to extend the planned underground and open-pit mining inventory. The discovery sits beyond the existing resource envelope defined in the DFS, which already targets redevelopment of historic workings and existing processing infrastructure on site. For geotechnical and mine planners, the step-out mineralisation may require updated pit shells, revised stope designs and additional drilling to constrain geometry, continuity and ground conditions.

Ora Banda Mining has reported a new round of high-grade drill results from the Waihi project’s Golden Pole prospect in Western Australia, confirming potential for a fast-tracked open-pit development. Intercepts from reverse circulation and diamond drilling show narrow but high-grade gold zones close to surface, supporting rapid conversion to JORC-compliant resources and early ore feed to the nearby Davyhurst processing plant. For geotechs and mine planners, the shallow mineralisation and existing plant capacity point to short lead times for pit design, geotechnical modelling and permitting.